Broom Grass Is Turning Nawalpur’s Hills Into a High-Value Cash Crop

What was once underused hillside land in Nawalpur is now producing real income for local families. Farmers in the district’s hilly regions have earned 16.5 million rupees this season by selling broom grass, also known as amriso, turning steep and difficult terrain into a reliable cash crop.

The boom is concentrated in municipalities such as Hupsekot, Baudikali, and Bulingtar, where cultivation has expanded through community forestry initiatives supported by the Division Forest Office. In places where traditional crops are hard to grow, broom grass has emerged as a practical and profitable alternative.

This shift matters because it shows how local agriculture can adapt to geography instead of fighting it. On slopes where staple farming often struggles, broom grass offers farmers a crop that can survive the terrain and generate income at the same time.

The success in Nawalpur also reflects a broader pattern in Nepal’s hill farming economy. Broom grass has long been used for brooms, but in recent years it has gained value as a marketable crop that can be harvested and sold in bulk. For households with limited farmland, that makes it especially attractive.

Community forestry has played a major role in the expansion. By allowing cultivation in managed forest areas, local groups have helped convert otherwise barren land into productive plots while creating a new revenue stream for residents. The result is not just agricultural output, but a more resilient rural economy.

For farmers in the district, broom grass is becoming more than a secondary crop. It is increasingly a primary source of income, helping families earn money from land that previously offered little return.

The Nawalpur example is a reminder that the future of rural farming may depend less on conventional crops and more on smart adaptation, local institutions, and species that fit the land.